A fatal crash between an ATV and a vehicle serves as a reminder of the regulations and safety requirements for using ATVs.
Cumberland County Deputy Sheriff Tashaua Stone said children under the age of 16 must be supervised by an adult when operating these vehicles. Stone said it is not against the law for unlicensed minors to ride on private property or dirt tracks. On public roads, that’s different.
“You’re not supposed to have an ATV, a four-wheeler and stuff on the roadway,” Stone said. “Now a side-by-side if it’s registered, insurance and all that, then you’re allowed to have it on a roadway.”
Stone said she has seen a decrease in the frequency of four-wheelers on the road compared to 12 years ago, which she attributes to parents becoming more strict following the frequency of accidents. Stone said the lethal collision in Fentress County last week might have been preventable with the proper safeguards.
Stone said side-by-sides must be equipped with specific safety features to be considered street legal, including headlights, taillights, blinkers, a working horn and mirrors. Stone said the most critical safety feature for these vehicles is the use of seatbelts.
“Whenever you get in ATVs, like your four-wheelers and stuff like that, because you know you got a small kid controlling a large- a large equipment,” Stone said. “So you got to realize whenever you’re going to buy the stuff, ‘Hey, is my child capable of handling that?'”
Stone said smaller engines, such as 25cc models, allow parents to regulate the throttle, whereas larger 400cc to 800cc engines can possess far too much power for a small child to handle safely. Stone said riders must also wear DOT-certified helmets and should move over for other vehicles when riding on back roads.
“Just always be cautious, don’t exceed your limits, don’t be crazy on a four-wheeler, I mean, don’t be out here showing your butt and just be cautious,” Stone said.
Stone said the community needs more education and safety classes, perhaps offered at the point of purchase, to help prevent future tragedies.
